Need for Indian Street Bridge 'obvious'

PALM CITY - Martin County government and business leaders took their case for the proposed Indian Street Bridge project straight to one of the key players holding the purse strings Wednesday at a Palm City reception for U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney shuttled Oberstar through South Florida for a whirlwind view of several area projects ranging from Everglades restoration and Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike to the proposed bridge.

After viewing a power-point presentation highlighting arguments supporting the project, bridge proponents told Oberstar the span was the area's top priority.

"I hope this shares with you what folks in this community deal with every day," Martin County Commission Chairman Doug Smith told Oberstar. "All of our available dollars have gone into this bridge. It's our No. 1 priority, and we really need your help to get us over this hurdle."

The bridge, which has existed in conceptual form since 1965 has a $186.4 million price tag, $109.3 million of which is unfunded.

Bridge proponents argue that linking Stuart at Indian Street and Kanner Highway to Palm City and through to the Florida Turnpike will relieve congestion along the Palm City Bridge corridor, ease hurricane evacuation and improve emergency response time.

Oberstar, whose committee is the largest in Congress and charged with overseeing all modes of national transportation and infrastructure, said he was in agreement with project.

"We know that bridges are critical in connecting communities and economies," Oberstar said. "I see the need. It's obvious and urgent."

Oberstar said Florida's population grew by 15 percent from 1990 to 2000; however, traffic in the state experienced a 30 percent increase.

"And we have fallen so critically behind in our infrastructure," he said.

Oberstar said he hopes Florida's portion of bridge money from the new Federal Highway Trust Fund would increase from $70 million to $100 million next year, to be matched 20 cents on the dollar from the state. That money would be spent for bridges across the state.

Although no commitments were made Wednesday, Martin County Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi was optimistic.